Clarence Clemons Believes the E Street Band Will Stay Together

Posted on Oct 21st 2009 11:30AM by Steve Baltin
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Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band have closed down some of their most famed venues this month, recently playing the last-ever gigs at New Jersey's Giants Stadium and Philadelphia's Spectrum before both buildings are demolished. But saxophonoist Clarence Clemons isn't ready to take the 'Wrecking Ball' to the legendary band just yet. In an interview with the Morning Call to promote his new book, 'Big Man: Real Life & Tall Tales,' which he's been showing onstage during the band intros of late, Clemons says he's not worried this is the end of the E Street run. "[Bruce] just keeps getting stronger and stronger," Clemons said of his 60-year-old bandmate. "I guess the stronger he gets, the stronger we'll have to become, just to keep up with him."

Those are going to be very reassuring words for Springsteen devotees, as every show now has fans wondering is this the last time they'll get to see them, and Clemons admits he's had similar fears. In his autobiography, he writes of tearfully taking Springsteen's hand after the farewell show of the 'Rising' tour in 2003 and saying, "Thanks ... for everything."

The book, the first from a member of the band, details some humorous stories in the 30-plus years of being an E Streeter, including a 1973 traffic stop where Clemons, who had a joint on him, was terrified of Springsteen and his "no drugs" policy. He also recalls getting a hug from Ringo Starr, another guy who knows about legendary groups disbanding, when Springsteen put the group on extended hiatus in 1989.

While the book does offer some rock star stories -- including the availability of sex, which Clemons says was actually too much, and some occasional Hollywood partying, like getting stoned with 'Sanford & Son' star Redd Foxx -- Clemons isn't looking to spill the beans on his famous frontman. "'Tell-all books are boring,'' Clemons told the Morning Call ''What you did, nobody wants to know about it, unless you did something exciting. I'm an entertainer, and this book is very entertaining, I think.''

He does address his own health problems, like knee replacement surgery and a mild heart attack, but Clemons assures fans he is not ready to call it quits. "I call the stage 'the healing floor,' because I walk out there and nothing hurts, nothing bothers me for the three hours,'' he said before addressing fallen E Street comrade Danny Federici, who passed away last year of cancer. According to the interview, Clemons says Federici's passing helped the band to realize the importance of caring for themselves, "because this is a big responsibility that we have as a band, to our fans.''

'Big Man: Real Life & Tall Tales' is available now.